Letter printing machine



De 31, 1935. D. o. ROYSTER ET AL LETTER PRINTING MACHINE -Filed July 1'7, 1930 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 1 1935. D. o. ROYSTER ET AL 2,026,101

LETTER PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1930 17 Sheets-Sheet 2 73 jllllllll"HHHIHILYIIIL 1935- D. O. ROYSTER- ET AL 2,026,101

LETTER PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1950 17 Sheets-Sheet 5 1935. D. o. ROYSTER ET AL LETTER PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1950 17 Sheets-Sheet 4 LETTER PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1950 17 Sheets-Sheet 6 Dec. 31, 1935.

D. o. ROYSTER ET AL 2,026,101

LETTER PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jul 17, 1930 17 sne cs-sxieet 7 LETTER PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1930 17 Sheets-Sheet 8 62: WW I 1935. D. o. ROYSTER ET AL 2,026,101

LETTER PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 1'7, 1950 17 Sheets-Sheet 9 job 1 273 1935. D. o. ROYSTER ET AL 0 LETTER PRINTING MACHINE I Filed Jul 17, 1930 17 SheetsSheet 10 Dec. 31, 1935. D. o. ROYSTER ET AL LETTER PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jhly 17, 1930 17 sheets-sheet New You Jalm aslnaik.

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Dec. 31, 1935.

'D. o. ROYSTER ET AL 0 LETTER PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1930 17 Sheets-Sheet 12 $37G 1935- D, O. RoYsTER ET 'AL 2,025,101

LETTER PRINTING MACHINE Dec. 31', 1935. D. o. ROYSTER ET AL 2,026,101

LETTER PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1930 17 Sheets-Sheet l5 a ww Dec. 31, 1935. D. o. ROYSTER ET AL LETTER PRINTING MACHINE Filed July- 17, 1930' 17 Sheets-Sheet l6 w/mu/m///////////// llII/II (a;

Dec. 31, 1935. D. o. ROYSTER ET AL LETTER PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1930 17 Sheets-Sheet l7 wwh wm Nhm Patented Dec. 31, 1935 LETTER PRINTING MACHINE David 0. Rcyster, Overland, and Edwin L. Keller,

St. Louis, Mo., assignors to American Mail-- Press Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application July 17, 1930, Serial No. 468,618

18 Claims. (Cl. 101-57) This invention pertains to printing machines and more particularly to letter printing machines such as are used for printing circular letters, each letter being addressed to a particular addressee.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a machine for printing addressed circular letters and a series of correspondingly addressed envelopes which will be entirely automatic in its operation.

Another object is to provide a machine which will print circular letters in large quantities each letter being addressed to a particular addressee which address is printed in a uniform manner with the body of the letter, the letter head and the signature of the sender being also printed on the sheet by the machine.

Another object is to provide a machine of the character described in which the Salutation, in connection with the address, etc., is also printed on the letter.

Another object is to provide a machine as just described whereby the letter head, the body of the letter and the signature of the sender may be printed in different inks.

Another object is to provide a machine adapted for printing circular letters from a type bed in which the body of the letter is set up together with a series of addressed plates which are successively positioned in proper relation with the letter body and means for printing the letter head and the signature together with means for feeding sheets to the printing mechanism and for automatically printing thereon in succession the body of the letter with its address and the letter head and signature.

Another object is to provide novel means for handling the letter sheet as it passes through the machine to receive the successive impressions.

Another object is to provide novel means for restraining the action of the machine in case a sheet should fail to feed.

Another object is to provide means for making ready the body printing form as employed in connection with a ribbon and also a series of address plates.

Another object is to provide novel means for handling a series of address plates passing through the machine in succession to be printed in cooperation with the letter body and also for addressing the envelopes and for properly removing and storing the plates after the printing thereof. 7

Another object is to provide novel means for feeding and printing envelopes to correspond with the printed letters.

Another object is to provide novel means for separately inking the printing means for the letter body, the letter head and the signature.

Further objects will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings; in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view taken from the left front of a machine embodying this invention;

Figures 2 and 3 are vertical longitudinal sections of the chute leading to the carriage; with sheet grippers in different positions;

Figure 4 is a front view of the lower portion of the main frame of the machine with parts removed so as to show the driving mechanism;

Figure 5 is a view in longitudinal section taken about on the line 55 of Figure 4 of the machine showing the mechanism for driving the carriage and the inking devices;

Figure 5a is an enlarged detail of the same;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the carriage. This may also be taken as a plan view of Figure 5 with parts omitted in order to avoid confusion;

Figure 7 is a detail section on line 'l---'! of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a detail section on line 8-8 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a detail section taken about on line 99 of Figure 4 illustrating the connections for driving the platen and the stripper;

Figure 10 is a View from the right-hand side of the machine showing the mechanism for operating the platen. This mechanism is positioned above that shown in Figure 4;

Figure 11 is a partial plan view of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a front view of Figure 10;

Figure 13 is an enlarged detail of Figure 10;

Figure 14 is a horizontal section taken about on line l4-l i of Figure 4;

Figure 15 is a detail of the mechanism for placing the addresss plates upon the tranvserse belt;

Figure 16 is a plan view of Figure 15;

Figure 17 is an enlarged section taken on line ll-l1 of Figure 16;

Figure 18 is an enlarged detail of Figure 15;

Figure 19 is an enlarged detail of Figure 16;

Figure 20 is a front view of the envelope printing platen and its operating mechanism;

Figure 21 is a right-hand side view of Figure 20;

Figure 22 is a plan view of Figure 20;

Figure 23 is an enlarged sectional view taken about on line 2323 of Figure 14;

Figure 24 is an enlarged detail of Figure 23;

Figure 25 is a plan view of Figure 23 with parts omitted;

Figure 26 is a vertical sectional view taken about on line 26-26 of Figure 14 showings the mechanism for accurately locating the address plate and also the mechanism for discharging such plates into the storage receiver;

Figure 27 is a detail section on line 2'l21 of Figure 26;

Figure 28 is a detail section on line 28-28 of Figure 26;

Figure 29 is a view taken in about the same way as Figure 23 but showing a construction adaptable for the use of a different kind of address plate;

Figure 30 is a rear view of Figure 29 (taken from the right-hand side of said figure) Figure 31 is a detail sectional view taken about on line 3I3| of Figure 14 showing the mechanism for winding and rewinding the ink ribbon;

Figure 32 is a plan view of Figure 31;

Figure 33 is an enlarged detail of Figure 5 showing the devices for inking the letterhead and signature printing cylinder and the mecha nism for controlling the same Figure 34 is a front elevation of Figure 33 omitting the ink fountain;

Figure 35 is a face view of an address plate as used in this machine; and

Figure 36 is a View of one form in which the circular letter may be printed on this machine.

The general outline of operation In the operation of this machine a blank sheet is fed to a position to be received by a moving carriage which carries it to printing position over an inkribbon below which is positioned a type chase in which the body of the letter has been set up in ordinary type. An address plate containing the name, address and salutation of the party to whom the letter is to be sent has previously been properly positioned relatively to the body of the letter below the ink ribbon. A printing platen is now brought down upon the sheet so as to press the same against the type with the ribbon therebetween. This prints the address and body of the letter on the sheet. The platen is now raised and the carriage reverses its movement and carries the sheet from its printing position and delivers it to a chute in the front of the machine. At the same time the address plate is moved laterally to a new printing position under the ribbon, while a new address plate is moved into position for printing with the body of the letter.

While the foregoing operations were going on, a series of envelopes have been fed from a supply stack and carried successively to the new printing position of the address plate which has just been printed with the letter. As the platen descends to print the letter, as previously described, an auxiliary platen is brought down upon an envelope positioned over the address plate which has just been shifted from the body of the letter. It will be noted, therefore, that an addressed envelope is provided for each addressed letter. The address plates are carried by a transverse belt and are automatically placed upon this belt at one side of the machine and after printing are automatically removed therefrom to a storage receiver.

The printed letter which has been delivered to the chute in front of the machine is carried thereby between a printing cylinder and a pressureroll. The printing cylinder is provided with type plams bearing a letterhead which is to be printed on the letter sheet, and the signature of the sender. Two inking devices are provided; one of which is automatically controlled so as to ink only the letterhead on the printing cylinder. The other inking device is automatically controlled so as to ink only the signature plate. These two inking devices may be, and usually are, supplied with ink of different colors. Accordingly, a letterhead may be printed in one color and the signature in another, and both of these colors may be different from that of the body of the letter. At an appropriate time in the operation of the machine, this printing cylinder is rotated together with its pressure roll and the letter sheet is thereby passed between these cylinders and the letterhead and signature are printedthereon.

Main driving mechanism Referring to the drawings, more particularly Figs. 1 and 4, l designates an electric motor or prime mover of any suitable type for driving the machine. From the motor l a belt 2 transmits power to a speed reducing mechanism of any suitable type. (Not shown). This speed reducing mechanism in turn transmits power by means of a chain or other suitable connection (not shown) to a sprocket 3 on a main drive shaft 4, shown in Figure 4. The shaft 4 is journaled in bearings 5 in a frame 6 upon which the entire mechanism is mounted. Mounted on the shaft 4 is a mutilated gear I which drives the letter printing platen. Carried by the gear I is a disc 8 provided in its face with a cam slot 9 by means of which the mechanism for operating the stripper is driven. The shaft 6 also carries a disc ID in one face of which is a cam slot II which drives the mechanism for operating the carriage. The opposite face of the disc I0 is provided with a cam slot i2 which drives the mechanism for operating the letterhead and signature printing cylinder. On the left-hand end of the shaft 4 is mounted a disc [3 which has provided in the face thereof a cam slot 14 which drives the mechanism for inserting and discharging the address plates and also for winding and rewinding the ink ribbon. On the right-hand end of the shaft 4 are mounted two plates l5 and I6 which together constitute 9.

Geneva gear, as will be more fully described here- I inafter, which drives the transverse belt which carries the address plates. This mechanism also drives the belt which carries the envelopes suc-. cessively to printing position. A sprocket I! also carried by the shaft 4 is mounted to drive mechanism for feeding envelopes from the supply stack to the belt which carries them to printing position. A disc l8 on the shaft 4 operates connections which control the accurate centering of the address plates in their several printing positions.

Carriage mechanism Referring now more particularly to Figures 5 to 8, inclusive, mounted in any suitable manner upon a bed 11 on the frame 6 is a chase 78 of any suitable type in which the body of the letter is set up. This chase may be'provided at one end thereof with an elevated portion 19 adapted to provide a support for the address plate, as will be more fully described hereinafter. Mounted in any suitable manner in the frame 6 is a pair of longitudinally extending rods or rails 8!). Mounted to run on rollers 8| on the rails 80 is a carriage 82. The carriage 82 comprises simply a rectangular frame having side and end members and braced by cross members 83. Extending along the lower edge of each side of the frame 82 is a toothed rack 84.

Mounted on a transverse shaft 85 in the frame 8 is a pair of gears 86 adapted to engage the rack 8 to move the carriage. The shaft 85 has secured thereto a pinion 81 engaging a toothed sector 88 pivoted on a stud 89 on the frame 6. The sector 88 is connected by a link SI] with a lever 9i pivoted on a cross shaft 92 in the lower part of the frame 6. The lever 9| carries a cam roll 93 engaging the cam slot ii in the disc II! on the main drive shaft 3. Operation of the cam II will cause the lever SI to swing forward and back, thereby rocking the sector 88. This sector operates the pinion 81 to turn the shaft 85 thereby rotating the gears 88 which co-operate with the racks 8 to move the carriage back and forth. In order to stop the sector 88 at each end of its travel, stop devices, as shown in Figure 5 are provided. These consist simply of a spring bumper 9 1 which serves to absorb the momentum of the sector and the carriage and an adjustable positive step 95 which limits the movement of the sector. The cam groove I I is so formed as to cause this mechanism to move the carriage back and forth in timed relation with the other mechanism of the machine and may be shaped to provide such acceleration, retardation or pauses as will regulate the movement of the paper in any desired manner. This movement will be more fully described hereinafter.

In order to ink the type in the chase I8 inking devices may be provided on the carriage 82 instead of an ink ribbon. This may take the form of a series of inking rolls 95 suitably journaled near the front end of the carriage. Mounted on the rear of the frame 6 and ink fountain 53'! may be provided. This may be of any suitable type. As illustrated, it comprises a steel roll 98 engaging an adjustable plate 39 holding therebetween a pool of ink Iilil. Mounted on a pivot IIII on a. bracket 29 on the bed ii an ink table I82 may be provided. As illustrated in the drawings, this may be of the type having a separate center section I 33, as shown in Figures 5 and 6 and suitable devices such as oppositely-acting pawls sea on an arm 563 which is swung in opposite directions by the reciprocating movement of the carriage, may be provided for rotating the sections I02 and E83 in opposite directions in order to spread the ink. This mechanism is old in the art and no detail description thereof is necessary. At each movement of the carriage back and forth the rolls 85, which may be of composition such as is ordinarily used for ink rollers of this type, are carried across the inking table back and forward and the ink table is turned so that the ink is spread evenly thereover. At each rearward movement the rear roll 98 comes in contact with the roll 98 to take ink therefrom. At each forward movement of the carriage a pawl I84 thereon strikes a ratchet carried by the roll 98 and operates to turn said roll so as to feed the ink.

It will be noted from Figure 1 that the front of the machine opposite the sheet printing devices is open so that a suitable mechanism for feeding the sheets individually may be placed in cooperation with the machine at this point. There are many types of sheet feeding devices which are vvell known in the art, a. detailed description of which is unnecessary for the purpose of this invention. It is contemplated, however, that some such feeding mechanism be placed in cooperation with themachine at this point in such a manner that the sheets as they are fed therefrom may be received by the sheet handling devices on the carriage 82 as will now be described.

Such sheet feeding means is represented in the drawings by the chute I5 which forms the delivery end thereof.

The carriage 82 is-provided at its forward end with devices for gripping the paper sheet as it is received from the feeder. This is shown in section in Figure 1. A lower guide I 85 and an upper guide I88 are permanently mounted on the front cross member I 0! of the carriage. The guides I85 and I86 are flared in a vertical direction so as to insure that the edge of the sheet will be received therebetween. Mounted on a shaft I88, journaled in the side members of the carriage B2 is a series of fingers I09. These extend forwardly through slots in the cross members IEJ'I. The fingers I89 are positioned so that when moved downwardly they will engage the upper surface of the guides H35. Fixed to the shaft I08 is an arm I I0 tensioned by a spring I I I so as to rock the shaft forwardly to depress the fingers I69. Also fixed to the shaft I93 (see Figure 8) is a plate IIZ provided with a dog H3 adapted to be engaged by a spring latch H4 to hold the shaft I88 against the tension of the spring III and to maintain the fingers I09 in raised position. The latch IM has anupwardly extending dog II5 adapted to be engaged by an adjustable arm H6 on the frame 6 so that at a proper point in the travel of the carriage the latch I! will be released so as to permit the fingers I89 to descend and grip the paper which has at that time been positioned between said fingers and the guide I 85.

In order to insure non-printing in case a sheet should fail to feed and be properly gripped by the carriage, an arm III is pivoted on the shaft H38 and tensioned by a. spring H8. The arm II'I carries a finger H9 which is so positioned relatively to the guides I85 and I88 and the fingers I09 so that when a sheet of paper is normally positioned to beengaged by the fingers I88, said finger I59 when moved downwardly will engage the sheet so positioned. The arm III is provided with a rearward extension having a pin I25 adapted to engage the rear edge of the arm Iifi so as to hold the finger H9 in raised position while the fingers I89 are retracted and latched by the engagement of the latch HQ with the dog I I3. When the shaft I88 is released by the arm H8 engaging the dog M5, the finger I I9 is moved downwardly into engagement with the sheet if the same is in position. .If no sheet is in position on the guides I85 the finger I I9 moves downwardly beyond said guides to a position such that when the carriage 82 moves rearwardly said finger IIil will engage an arm I2I connected to control the movement of the platen, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

A stripper is provided to separate the sheet from the type or the ribbon. This is shown in Fi ure 6, and comp-rises a frame having side members I22 adapted to engage the side margins of the sheet and end members I23 and I24 adapted to engage the end margins, the latter members at the rear end of the stripper being sec-- tionalized to provide gaps 25 through which the guides Hi5 and I86 may pass as the carriage moves back and forth. The stripper is provided with an upstanding rim 26 at each side adapted 

